Florida’s Governor, Jacksonville’s Mayor, and the Superintendent of the Duval County Public School System ask through enthusiastic support letters for the public to join in the commemoration of ’s 1562 arrival at the St. Johns River.

The Jacksonville City Council celebrates the 450th anniversary through a resolution that celebrates the first colony of men and women seeking religious freedom in the New World. Introduced by Council Member Yarborough & Co-sponsored by CM Anderson, Bishop, Boyer, Brown, Carter, Clark, Crescimbeni, Daniels, Gaffney, Gulliford, Holt, Jones, Joost, Lee, Love, Lumb, Redman, Schellenberg

RESOLUTION 2012-110

A RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE 450TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE

LANDING OF JEAN RIBAULT IN THE NEW WORLD; COMMEMORATING

THE EVENTS THAT LED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST

EUROPEAN COLONY OF MEN AND WOMEN ESTABLISHED FOR THE

PURPOSE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM; DESIGNATING MAY 1, 2012 AS

JEAN RIBAULT DAY; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The Saga of Jean Ribault and the French Colony in North

Celebrate 450 America’s First Coast

At Jacksonville

Script and Visuals by Emily Lisska, Lyn Corley and Ted Corley Jacksonville Historical Society “For sheer drama, the French-Spanish rivalry in Florida is unsurpassed in the history of our country. Against a background of discovery as daring as the 20th–century penetration into the cosmos, eager colonists from France, pushed into a new world…Their settlement was savagely overwhelmed by Spanish enemies in the first decisive battle for our land. was lost to France. But into the Southeast it had brought the Age of Colonization.” Albert Manucy Historian – National Park Service 1561

The year was 1561, a pivotal time in the age of exploration. Tensions mounted in France and religious persecution and hostility threatened the powerful nation with civil war—a war that was certain to tear the country apart. attributed to Portugal e aCastela 1494 Tordesillas de Tratado In stepped French Admiral Gaspard de Coligny, a devoted Protestant, who pled the case for colonization in the New World by the French Protestants, known as . Coligny convinced the French Queen Regent Catherine Wikipedia de Medici to sponsor the Gaspard de Colingy exploration of sites for settlements. The colonies would provide safe haven to worship freely and could expand the boundaries of the ambitious European nation. The land west across the Atlantic Ocean was the

Wikipedia destination. Catherine de Medici 1562

In 1562, the French nation’s most renowned navigator and sea captain, Jean Ribault, a Huguenot, was selected to lead the voyage for settlement in the New World. The explorers left Havre-de-Grace, France on February 18, 1562, with Captain Ribault, Second-in-Command Rene de Laudonniere, and their fleet of three ships. Jacques le Moynes

They navigated a new course to the New World that was previously thought impossible. As the sun set on April 30th, Ribault spotted a bubbling turbulence along the Florida Coast and realized he was at the mouth of a unique and majestic river - a river that flowed north - a deep-water port. The deep water was critical for colonization and trade to support the colony. George Herbert McCord Herbert McCord George “The next day in the morning,” May 1, 1562, at dawn, Ribault and some of his oarsmen took large rowboats from the tall sailing ships to investigate the river as natives looked on. And to note the special day and date, Ribault named the waterway, the River May…today known as the St. Johns. Beaufort History Center –Center Beaufort History SC Beaufort,

Soon after entering the flowing waterway, Ribault and his men saw natives, the Mocama-speakingTimucuas, heading toward the riverbank. These statuesque and scantily clad natives motioned the best docking site. “Without any more doubt or difficulty” the French landed and offered gifts to Chief Alimacani’s tribe. Alimacani eagerly removed his red leather girdle and sent it to Ribault. This remarkable act of assurance prompted Ribault to approach the chief and a bond was forged. First for Religious Freedom in the New World

The natives watched in rapt silence as the French fell to their knees offering a prayer of Thanksgiving for Holyoke College in Florida” Mount their safe arrival. As they uttered the first Protestant prayers in the New World, the Huguenots became

the first people Edwin White “Landing of Huguenots seeking religious freedom on land that is now the United States. Ribault Mural by Lee Adams “brotheren”. his chief and robesand for the the nativessmallgifts There, theyoffered by ChiefSatouriba. group ofnatives,led another friendly with rivermet and Ribault crossed the Exploration of the area convinced Ribault, as he wrote in his journal, that this was the “fairest, fruitfullest, and pleasantest land in all the world.” Ribault also writes in his account that the Indian men and women’s bodies were so beautifully painted that not even the best artisans of Europe “could amend it.” Jacques Le Moyne Claiming the Land for France Ft. Caroline National Memorial

On May 2, Ribault and his men planted a column in honor of their King, Charles IX, claiming the land for France. The column indicated loyalty to the King and gave promise of their return to settle the land. Ribault’s journal clearly outlined his attraction for a settlement at the River May. He recorded that the natives were of a “gentle, good and amiable nature,” the place was of “good climate and healthful,” and the River May was “goodly” and “great,” providing the deep-water port that he sought. Ribault’s journal stated that he chose men to remain with the natives and charged them to be “gentle and show humanity” toward the natives so they might live peacefully with them when the Ft. Caroline National Memorial colonists returned. Charlesfort Jacques LaeMoyne Ribault and his men headed up the Atlantic coast on May 3rd, claiming more land for France. On May 25th, the French planted a column at today’s Parris Island and built a fort at the site calling it Charlesfort. As Ribault and his men set sail on the return trip to France for supplies and reinforcements, he penned in his journal that thirty men chose to stay behind at the fort. Jean Ribault Wikipedia Upon arrival in France, Ribault found that the nation had erupted in civil war. His quest for a quick return was delayed as he sought support from Queen Regent Catherine and King Charles IX, now distracted monarchs. 1563

Ribault’s fame continued to grow after his journal of the New World voyage was printed in 1563 and distributed throughout Europe. It was then that he turned to of England who pledged support for a return trip. Wikipedia Wikipedia London. of Tower jailed inthe Ribault ordered Elizabeth was pledged, Ribault support the instead of and England, between France growing friction With the two years earlier atthe River May. France…this time to establisha colonyatthe siteRibault selected The year wasnow 1564andcolonists were readytoleave 1564

Wikipedia his men werestunned to findthe worshipping the column. and where the columnhad beenplaced twoyearsearlier.Laudonniere the RiverMay,the mouth of arrived at today’s Mayport, attheverysite colony.lead the was selected to French June 1564,the In Laudonniere With Ribault detained in the Tower of London by Elizabeth I, Rene de Return totheRiverMay

Jacques LeMoyne the colony wasdecided. French twoyearsearlier. After talks, thelocation of thefort and had befriended the the natives who Laudonniere negotiated with

Ft. Caroline National Memorial New World. La Caroline also included thefirstreco majority was Huguenot,butthere wereCatholics, Moors andagnostics. leading Frenchfamilies, laborers,artisans. overwhelming and The soldiers and fouramong thesettlers. women Also among the rankswere Caroline.sailed, there Oftheestimated 300 who were110 sailors, 120 selected forNew World,first Frenchthe site ofthe colony in the La landoverlooking chose the riverRibault had and thathe Laudonniere Founding of La Caroline Founding of rd of free African colonists in the

Ft. Caroline National Memorial First Colonial Thanksgiving

On June 30, 1564, the sounding of trumpets called the colonists together in assembly to give thanks to God for their successful voyage and the colony’s auspicious beginning. They sang a song of Thanksgiving, some scholars referring to this event by the settlers as the first colonial Thanksgiving in America. Silver Burdett Ginn The French settled squarely in the middle of tribes where Chief Satouriba’s men eagerly helped construct La Caroline. Journals tell of the efforts of the French to build homes, share beliefs with the Jacques Le Moyne natives, search for resources tosupport the physical needs of the men and women, and find mineral wealth on the land. Active day-to-day life ensued in the colony including the birth of the first European child recorded in colonial American history. Ft. Caroline National Memorial To survive, supplies were necessary and shipments had not arrived. Additionally, Laudonniere misused the friendship, trust and political balance among tribes yet depended on these natives for food. Eventually, his power plays alienated many natives. Adding to the colony’s troubles were mutineers who headed south and attacked Spanish ships along the trade routes. First Port of Trade The year 1565 was one of despair and inadequate provisions, and the colonists slowly prepared to return to France. The surprising arrival of English slaver and trader, John Hawkins, on August 3rd helped restock the colony and delayed the planned departure. The Hawkins’ visit established the River May as Wikipedia the first recorded port of trade recorded by international powers. Cannons, food supplies, wearing apparel and a ship were strategically exchanged. New Colonists With a negotiated release of Jean Ribault, he was now free to rush reinforcements and supplies to La Caroline. Hundreds of soldiers and settlers on seven sailing ships left Havre de Grace, France on May 23rd and arrived at the River May on August 28th. Wikipedia reinforcements hadarrived! were identified. The provisions and fear turned tojoyas Jean Ribault’s ships weresails Spanishor the French?Soon horizon --- the ships on colonists spotted for France. Anxiety mountedwhenthe sail forset waited headwinds to ships and exhausted colonists boarded 1565, the reinforcements. So, at theendof August return to France for provisions and alternative forsurvival was atemporary Still, Laudonniere likely realized the only

Jacques Le Moyne Spain’s Intervention in Colonization

Ribault was aware that Spain’s King Philip II had commissioned Pedro Menendez to vanquish the Huguenot presence in Florida. As Ribault crossed the Atlantic Ocean,

Menendez was on his heels. Wikipedia Menendez raced across the Atlantic Philip ll to claim the land he believed rightfully belonged to Spain based Wikipedia on Pope Alexander VI’s 1493 Papal Donation and Ponce de Leon’s 1513 claim. From his sailing vessels on August 28th, Menendez Alexander Vl chose a landing site and named it St. Augustin in honor of the feast day. He deposited supplies on the nearby and headed north to the mouth of the River Wikipedia May. Pedro Menendez First International War on America’s Soil National Geographic Magazine Arrival of the Spaniards at the River May was not a surprise. As the opposing vessels reached hailing distance Menendez demanded unconditional surrender, and the French replied that they would die first. Menendez fired on the French ships. The French cut anchor and set sail--- their ships easily out-distancing the lumbering Spanish vessels. The Spanish gave up the chase and returned to the River May with plans to attack the colony. Unable to enter the river, Menendez turned back to St. Augustin. Strategies for war were set by the two powers. This incident marked the beginning of the first international war on America’s soil. Jean Ribault

Ribault, the superior mariner, elected to attack Menendez on the high seas. Instead, Ribault found Menendez entrenched at Anastasia Island. Pedro Menendez “Trinite” by Wm. Trotter – Trotter Wm. by “Trinite” FL Beach, Atlantic Ribault waited for high tides to cross the sandy bar at the island, but raging storm winds forced his ships south. The battered vessels lay in utter destruction. Photographed at MOSH –Photographed at MOSH Jacksonville, FL Meanwhile, Menendez made a bold move. On September 16th, the Spanish, assisted by French traitor Francis Jean, led hundreds of fighting forces on a northward march to La Caroline. The mission in the midst of a storm required nearly four days. Making their way to the vicinity of La Caroline, they camped at the site known as Spanish Pond. In the early morning darkness of September 20th, the Spaniards readied to attack the fort. Attack on La Caroline

The brutal storm convinced the colonists that a Spanish strike would be impossible. The attack on the unguarded fort startled and shocked the sleeping French. In less than an hour, the slaughter of the colony was complete. Men, women, children, even infants died in the attack.

Ft. Caroline National Memorial

Ft. Caroline National Memorial Floridamemory.com Late in the attack, Menendez gave the order to spare the remaining women and children who were taken captive to St. Augustin. The Spanish claimed the vanquished fort and renamed it San Mateo as it was the feast day of St. Matthew. The river would temporarily take on the name as well. fate of JeanRibault andhismen unknown. the France, with bombardments, andreluctantlysetsail for boarded two ships,fendedoff repeatedSpanish he movedthrough theunderbrushinto themarshes. They break inthe fort’s westernwall. Along withother survivors, a made anescapethrough the attack,Laudonniere During Jacques LeMoyne

Ft. Caroline National Memorial Laudonniere and three other survivors recorded their stories of survival at La Caroline. Jacques LeMoyne, the first commercial artist for the New World, the carpenter and lay preacher, Nicholas Le Chelleux, and Ribault’s son, Jacques, a ships captain wrote accounts that stirred deep emotions in Europe.

Title Page of de Bry, America, Pt II Photo of Matanzas Beach In the meantime, three separate shipwrecks battered and scattered the French. Two groups marched north along the Atlantic coast toward La Caroline. Another group fortified at Canaveral. Ft. Matanzas National Memorial Near today’s Matanzas Inlet, the progress of one party stopped. Menendez appeared on the opposite side. A lengthy parley ensued and the French surrendered understanding that their lives would be spared. Menendez required the French to row across the small body of water in groups of ten. Tied in pairs, they were led out of sight behind the palmetto scrub and put to death with swords and axes. The Spaniards spared Catholics, artists and musicians sending them under guard to St. Augustin. The date was September Ft. Matanzas National Memorial 29, 1565. Ribault and Menendez Meet at Matanzas

A second group, including Jean Ribault, was discovered by Menendez at the inlet. Negotiations between the parties lasted nearly two days. Finally, reminding Menendez that the French were not at war with the

Wikipedia Spanish and believing that their lives would be spared, they putdown their arms and crossed over to the dunes to meet the Spanish. Ft. Matanzas National Memorial Psalm 132. prayer basedon Ribault’sa last words, wrote inhis journal Spaniard, Solis deMeras, “die inthesand.” renounce their faithor the opportunityto The Frenchweregiven were ofthenewreligion. Ribault repliedthatall Lutheran. Catholic or asked iftheywere Once tied,theywere could accomplish more in a yearthan another in ten.” and boasting his success, Menendez wrot Ribault’simportance of Canaveral. Realizing the encamped at execution Menendez thentraveled south French were spared. to attack more war.” Fifers,drummers,trumpeters andfourwhoclaimed tobeCatholic On October12 th Menendez ordered the execution of the“prisoners of of Menendez ordered theexecution e toPhilip ofSpain that “Ribault

Floridamemory.com By the end of the episode, hundreds of French lay dead at the hands of Pedro Menendez and the Spanish. While the name Menendez is synonymous with bloodbath among some North Floridians, most know him instead as the founder of St. Augustin. Menendez used the area that would become the oldest city in America as little more

than a supply dump in his Ft. Matanzas National Memorial battles against the French. An entire bloody chapter of European colonization occurred on North Florida soil more than a half century before the much celebrated history of the Jamestown colony. A whole colorful chapter in Florida history would pass before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth. 1568 Attack on San Mateo

Three years after the demise of La Caroline, Frenchman Doiminique de Gourgues set sail with a fleet toward the site of the colony. His goal was to avenge the honor of France with the destruction of the renamed Spanish fort, San Dominique de Gourgues Wikipedia Mateo. French countrymen. were put todeathin retribution of the 1565murders oftheir andtheremainder attacks on theSpanish. FewSpaniardsescaped Gourgues, Frenchtroopsand Indianallies made three separate

New York Public Digital Library freedom on land that became U.S. soil. freedom onlandthat becameU.S. the first colonyof European men andwomen seekingreligious River istooinfrequently told. St. Johns The settlementrepresents The storyof the1564settlementofFrench Huguenotsalong the

Ft. Caroline by Arnoldus Montanus These efforts by Laudonniere, Ribault, and the French colonists “set a new pattern for religious freedom in America—a pattern to be imitated until religious liberty and personal freedom became the great trademark of the United States.” (Congressman Charles E. Bennett)